▲

Ancient treasures, painted masterpieces, impressive sculptures, and stunning architecture are just some of the things that make these museums the best in Europe. If you're a history and art lover and you find yourself close to one of these cultural institutions, make sure not to miss out!

Click through the gallery of a list of the most awe-inspiring museums and galleries of Europe.

▲One of the most important museums in the world, the majestic Louvre, can be found in Paris. Two centuries ago, it was a military fortress for the French royalty.

▲Nowadays, it boasts unique artwork, from ancient times all the way up to modern-day. You can find around 35,000 works of art, including paintings, sculptures, engravings, and other objects.

▲The Louvre is like a maze and each room is dedicated to a specific genre of art or time period. The famous Mona Lisa painting by Leonardo Da Vinci can be found there.

▲This impressive building is home to one of the most-visited museums in the world. It was founded in 1753 and has over 6,000 items related to various cultures from around the world.

▲There you will find several relics, like the Rosetta Stone and friezes from the Athens' Parthenon, as well as Egyptian mummies, Chinese antiques and other ancient treasures. Admission is free for all tourists.

▲This palace in Florence is also one of the oldest art museums in the world. There you'll find paintings from artists such as Cimabue, Caravaggio, Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, among other geniuses.

▲Divided into several rooms designated for different styles and in chronological order, the museum showcases art from the middle ages to the modern period, with a particularly impressive collection of Renaissance pieces.

▲This museum in St. Petersburg is home to a vast collection of artwork.

▲It is one of the biggest museums in the world and its collection includes items from all time periods, styles and cultures. The works of art came from Russia, Europe, Asia and northern Africa.

▲The Winter Palace is also located in this 10-building complex, which was also the official residence of the Russian monarchs (Tsars). The museum has over three million works of art, a theater, a music academy, and many foreign treasures.

▲Another one of London's best, the Tate Modern features pieces by Pablo Picasso, Matisse, Braque, and Natalya Goncharova, among other artists from the 20th century.

▲Ever since its opening in 2000, the museum has offered visitors several modern and contemporary masterpieces.

▲The museum has become one of London's biggest attractions and the admission to certain exhibitions is free. On the building's last floor you get to see a panoramic view of the city.

▲In this museum complex, you'll find valuable works of art and antiques that were collected by the Catholic church over many centuries.

▲You'll see Egyptian, Greek, and Roman art, and galleries dedicated to ceramics and tapestry. The museums attract millions of tourists every year.

▲The Sistine Chapel's ceiling is a work of art in and of itself. It was painted by the Renaissance master Michelangelo and includes famous works like 'The Creation of Adam.'

▲This Amsterdam museum is considered to be one of the best in Europe, where tourists can enjoy the work of the greatest Dutch artists.

▲Some of the masterpieces you'll find include paintings from the 17th century by artists such as Rembrandt and Johannes Vermeer.

▲The most important museum in the country can be found in the capital of Madrid. The Spanish Royal Family collected most of the art found at the museum today during the Renaissance period.

▲There you'll find a vast collection of paintings and sculptures from Spain, France, German and Italy. Some of the most popular pieces belong to Spanish painter Diego Velázquez, including 'Las Meninas,' 'Las Hilanderas' and 'Adoración de los Reyes Magos.'

▲

The Science Museum was founded in 1857 and is one of the main attractions in the UK, receiving over three million visitors a year. (Excluding the years impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.)

▲Some of the most fascinating artifacts from scientific history are homed there. You can find George Stephenson's locomotive Rocket, the first jet engine, a reconstruction of Francis Crick's DNA model, and the first steam engines.

▲At this museum in Athens, you can literally take a walk through history and enjoy some of the city's oldest archaeological excavations and sanctuaries belonging to different historical periods.

▲On the third floor, you'll find a gallery with some of the Parthenon's sculptures, among other impressive ancient artifacts.

▲The wine museum in Bordeaux is fascinating on both the inside and outside because of its sophisticated and modern design. Its curvy architecture represents the wine's movement when it's poured into a glass.

▲It includes a cultural center, 19 exhibition rooms, a wonderful view of the French city, and a wine-tasting tour.

▲The V&A in London is one of the biggest decorative art and design museums in the world. Its permanent collection boasts over 2.3 million items.

▲The museum's collection goes as far back as 5,000 years ago, showcasing furniture, paintings, sculptures, clothing, and other fascinating artifacts.

▲This museum in Paris is dedicated to the visual art of the 19th century, more precisely from 1848 to 1914, and includes famous collections of impressionist art.

▲The museum's collections feature modern art from a specific period of 66 years, including works from Van Gogh, Cézanne, Monet, and many other masters.

▲The design for the center was chosen during a contest held by former French president Georges Pompidou. It is now one of the most visited museums in Paris.

▲It is home to the National Museum for Modern Art, the biggest of its kind in Europe, which also features technological pieces from the '70s.

▲Ancient art, architecture, and archaeology lovers cannot miss a visit to this museum, which is one of the most visited in Berlin.

▲There you'll find several collections of classical antique art, with highlights being the Pergamon Altar and the Market Gate of Miletus, as well as other Greek and Roman sculptures.

▲The cathedral of Constantinople (now Istanbul). was built between 532 and 537 during the Byzantine Empire.

▲It was originally a church and then a mosque, but these days the cathedral is an incredible museum where you'll friend relics from the Turkish empire, as well as mosaics from the Byzantine period.

▲The Capitoline Museums in Rome started with the donation of a bronze collection by Pope Sixtus IV in 1471, making it one of the oldest museums in the world.

▲One of the museum's main attractions is the Capitoline Wolf, a bronze sculpture that tells the story of the founding of Rome. You'll also find valuable artworks, such as the 1277 'Ritratto di Carlo I d'Angiò de Arnolfo di Cambio.'

▲You can also enjoy an impressive art collection with Roman paintings and sculptures. You can't miss the Capitoline Museums when in Rome!

▲This museum in Amsterdam is home to most of Vincent Van Gogh's work, but you can also find pieces from other artists of his time.

▲Besides his classic masterpieces, the museum also offers a vast array of expositions featuring several subjects from the 19th century.

▲The Serralves Museum in Porto is the most important contemporary art museum in Portugal. Apart from the incredible art, there's also a huge park and a great view of the museum's surroundings.

▲The building, designed by architect Álvaro Siza Vieira, is located in Serralves Park, which spans over three acres. You'll be able to find works of art by several contemporary artists.

▲The Portuguese capital of Lisbon also has one of the best museums in Europe. At the Calouste Gulbenkian museum, you'll have an amazing cultural experience and find all types of artwork.

▲Its collection consists of over 6,000 pieces, both ancient and modern, but only some are allowed in public exhibitions. The museum features Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Islamic, Chinese, and Japanese works of art.

▲This museum in Madrid is home to fantastic 20th century collections, making it one of the most important modern art museums in Europe. It was built as a tribute to Queen Sofia.

▲You'll find paintings by some of Spain's best 20th century artists, including Picasso, Dali, Miró and Gris. Picasso's classic piece, 'Guernica,' can be found there.

▲This fine art museum in Vienna boasts a vast collection of works, from Greek and Roman to Baroque art.

▲

Aside from the renaissance and Baroque artwork, the museum also offers real treasures from the Middle East and other cultures, such as a collection of medieval works.